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Jan. 9, 2013

Recap |  Box Score |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 

TEXAS

Head Coach Rick Barnes

On disappointment with tonight’s loss: As a coach, when you look out, and honestly see your opponent wanting the game more, I think that’s probably the most frustrating thing. It’s the same thing that has happened a couple of times at the end of games. And we have played enough [of those games]. It gets down to toughness. West Virginia hung around. You have to give them credit. They made winning plays at the end. I’ve always said, “you get the lead with your defense, and the offense has to keep it.” We are counting on our perimeter guys to score, and they didn’t do that at the end of the game. It was a hard fought-game. It was disappointing that when it was winning time, they wanted the game more than we did.

On performance of post players: It’s not easy in there. That’s a physical game out there. [Jonathan] Holmes has had a terrific year. Jaylen [Bond] has been out and is trying to come back. Our post guys have done a pretty good job lately trying to get their space on the floor, but we don’t get it to them in time. There’s a big difference in giving any post player the ball with a foot in the lane compared to a foot outside the lane. We always talk about fighting for that space, and our post guys are doing it. We have to deliver it when it’s there

On physicality of West Virginia: I’ve always had great respect for Bobby’s [Bob Huggins] teams. We have been in the business a long time, and they are going to play hard. We knew it was going to be one of those games. They are looking for consistency and we are looking for consistency as well. We have enough to get it done, but if any good team is going to get it done, you have got to have guys that show up every night.

On how to fix late-game struggles: Guys that you are counting on to score, fighting defensive pressure, refusing to be denied to do what they want to do. Sheldon [McClellan] and Julien [Lewis] are both learning now the difference in being a role player and being a person that people game plan for. Until we learn to execute, until we learn to do the things you have to do to win, it won’t change. It’s going to get down to those individual battles, and who wants it the most.

Freshman G Javan Felix
On the difference in the latter part of the 2nd half to Overtime: Loose balls and execution. On defense we have to come up with those rebounds and loose balls. I think in OT we gave up like three rebounds in a row and that definitely hurt us. We just have to finish, execution on offense, no turnovers. I had a crucial turnover down the stretch and I took a bad shot so that is basically another turnover. Part of that is on me but us as a team we just have to finish games.

Sophomore G Sheldon McClellan
On if team is uncertain they can win close games: No, the guards just have to do a better job of finishing off the game - including myself - and I missed too many free throws that I normally make and the guards just have to do a better job closing out games.

On the team’s mindset after two Overtime losses in first Big 12 games: We just have to stay positive as of right now, and not get to down on ourselves. It’s a long season so we just have to focus on the next couple of games and, like I said, the guards - especially me - have to finish better.

Sophomore F Jonathan Holmes
On feelings after 3-point shot to send it to OT: I thought we were going to win the game in overtime - never thought we were going to lose after that. We got into overtime, didn’t box out, didn’t execute, and ended up losing.

On giving up offensive rebounds: It’s just being tough, and not being tough. You have to finish the game - we didn’t finish the game tonight. At the end of the day you just have to go get the ball. They wanted the ball more, and that’s why we lost.

WEST VIRGINIA

Head Coach Bob Huggins
Opening Statement: I am proud of our guys. We had opportunities to pack it in but didn’t, we got down 12 due to a hard time scoring. Hopefully this gets us back to being my team. They were not my team before because they did not compete the way we need to compete. I thought they competed hard today.

On the difference of the last few minutes of the game: We rebounded the ball in the last few minutes; we missed three consecutive scores, rebounded, and then got another clock three times. We are going to miss shoots but we have got to figure out a way to get them back.

On Kevin Noreen’s 3-pointers: [Kevin] Noreen was a great 3-point shooter in high school. He can shoot. He can make those and Aaric [Murray] can make those. I thought that gave us a big lift in the game. Not only did he shoot threes but he got 13 rebounds tonight, that is pretty good for a guy that can’t jump over the phone book.